15 Sneaky Phone Interview Tips to Get You to the Next Round

Unfortunately, phone interviewing is also where every job
opportunity starts. So, how do you make them easier? Here are the best phone
interview tips collected from professional recruiters and, of course, the
internet.

Phone Interview
Tip #1: Understand Who’s Calling

As soon as you hear from the person who will conduct your
phone interview, do a quick LinkedIn search to figure out what their role is at
the company. Most often, it’s going to be a member of the recruiting team,
which means it won’t be your potential boss or the hiring manager.

Some Phone Interview Questions You Might Get:

Tell me a little bit about your work history.

Why are you looking to leave your current
company?

What is the biggest challenge you have seen at
your current position and how did you overcome it?

Describe a substantial win at your last
position.

What was your favorite/least favorite element of
your last position?

How can you contribute to our company’s success?

How well do you work by yourself, with a team?

Why are you interested in coming to work for us?

Why are you attracted to this specific position?

What makes you the ideal candidate for this
position?

When can you come in for an in-person interview?

If you’re applying to a job in another city) Are
you willing to relocate?

If we don’t provide relocation assistance, are
you still willing?

What are your salary requirements?

How far along are you in your search? Are you
speaking to other companies?

Tell me about [x] in your resume

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What questions do you have for me?

This last question is arguably the most
important question. Make sure to come prepared with knowledge of the company
and a few thoughtful questions.

While it’s the phone prescreen that matters most, you still
need to make a great impression in your email responding to the phone interview
request. Make sure your reply is pristine and straightforward and that you get
back in the same day, preferably within an hour or two. Also, double-check that
the time you select is one that works with your schedule. (We’ve all
double-booked before, especially when nervous.) And say thank you!

Phone Interview
Tip #3: Go Back to the Job Description

Once you know you’re a potential candidate, pull the
original job description up and read it carefully. Look for keywords that keep
popping up and the clear skills they’re after. These are the elements you
should try to touch on when you talk to your interviewer. We recommend even
jotting them down on scratch paper as you read. It will help your memory.

Bonus Tip: By the way, this is a good time to suggest that
you start saving all the links to job descriptions you’ve applied for in an
Excel file so you can keep track of them. This is a great shortcut for
situations like these, but it’s also a smart approach to the job search
process. You can set up columns for things like “Date to Follow Up” and “Next
Steps”.

Phone Interview
Tip #4: Research the Company on LinkedIn and via the Company Site

So that you have a great answer to the potential question,
“Why are you interested in coming to work for us?”

Phone Interview
Tip #5: Prepare Your Salary Requirements

You should have a $5,000 range in mind. Prepare for it by
researching via The Salary Project or one of the other great salary research
tools out there. And keep it simple when asked. Just say, “I’m looking to make
between $70,000 and $75,000.”

Phone Interview
Tip #6: Plan on Being Somewhere Quiet

That does not mean your car. Ideally, it’s not in an office
next to a construction site either. Book a meeting room at work or make sure
your dog’s out with the dog walker while you’re on the phone. Just keep it as
mellow as possible.

Phone Interview
Tip #7: Use Headphones

Plugging in headphones helps cut down on background noise
and will help the interviewer hear you better if their service is spotty.

Why not? Unlike an in-person interview, you can have all
those resources right in front of you to reference as you talk.

Phone Interview
Tip #9: Slow Down

Most of us talk too fast when we’re in a stressful speaking
situation. That’s especially true when you aren’t able to track the other
person’s visual cues. So, remind yourself to slow down.

Phone Interview
Tip #10: Prepare Some Questions to Ask

Again, these don’t have to be too complicated since it’s a
prescreen. But you might want to ask when they’re looking for someone to start
or what the hiring process will be like, including next steps (if they don’t
provide you with this information).

Phone Interview
Tip #11: When You Answer, Answer Professionally

You should say, “Hello, this is [your full name].” It makes
it easy for them, but it’s also clear that you’re ready and waiting (and
therefore prepared) for the interview. Here are the ideal opening remarks that
will clearly convey you knew this phone interview was coming:

You: Hello, this is [Your Name].

Them: Hi, this is [Their Name] calling from [Company.]

You: Hi [Their First Name], thank you again for taking the
time to speak with me today.

Phone Interview
Tip #12: Let Them Interrupt You

There’s an easy way to make sure you’re giving them the
right answers. “If you’ve started to give a long answer and the interviewer tries
to jump back in, then there’s no point in trying to keep talking because they’re
probably not paying attention…Let them interrupt and see what they really want
to get at, and maybe you can start that story again at a different point.”

Phone Interview
Tip #13: Write a Follow-Up Thank You Email

The Interview Thank You Rule (that’s an official term) is
simple: every time you speak to someone new at a company during the job
interview process, you should thank them for their time. So write a thank-you
email to the recruiter and send it within a few hours of your phone interview.

Phone Interview
Tip #14: Don’t Be Afraid to Communicate If You Need to Reschedule

Obviously, it’s not ideal to ask for a change of interview
time, so this is the last resort. But if you’re job searching, and it turns out
that your boss wants you to attend a meeting during the pre-scheduled time,
email the recruiter back. They understand that you’re juggling your search and
your work, and they don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you.

Phone Interview
Tip #15: Ask if They Have More Questions for You

Throughout the phone interview, you naturally answered and
asked insightful questions. At the end of the phone call, your interviewer
might ask you if you have any other questions. Respond in kind. Does the
interview have any final questions for you? This lets the interviewer know that
you are open to the challenge of more questions and that you are actively
engaged in the interview process.

Unfortunately, phone interviewing is also where every job opportunity starts. So, how do you make them easier? Here are the best phone interview tips collected from professional recruiters and, of course, the internet.

Phone Interview
Tip #1: Understand Who’s Calling

As soon as you hear from the person who will conduct your
phone interview, do a quick LinkedIn search to figure out what their role is at
the company. Most often, it’s going to be a member of the recruiting team,
which means it won’t be your potential boss or the hiring manager.

Some Phone Interview Questions You Might Get:

Tell me a little bit about your work history.

Why are you looking to leave your current
company?

What is the biggest challenge you have seen at
your current position and how did you overcome it?

Describe a substantial win at your last
position.

What was your favorite/least favorite element of
your last position?

How can you contribute to our company’s success?

How well do you work by yourself, with a team?

Why are you interested in coming to work for us?

Why are you attracted to this specific position?

What makes you the ideal candidate for this
position?

When can you come in for an in-person interview?

If you’re applying to a job in another city) Are
you willing to relocate?

If we don’t provide relocation assistance, are
you still willing?

What are your salary requirements?

How far along are you in your search? Are you
speaking to other companies?

Tell me about [x] in your resume

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What questions do you have for me?

This last question is arguably the most
important question. Make sure to come prepared with knowledge of the company
and a few thoughtful questions.

While it’s the phone prescreen that matters most, you still
need to make a great impression in your email responding to the phone interview
request. Make sure your reply is pristine and straightforward and that you get
back in the same day, preferably within an hour or two. Also, double-check that
the time you select is one that works with your schedule. (We’ve all
double-booked before, especially when nervous.) And say thank you!

Phone Interview
Tip #3: Go Back to the Job Description

Once you know you’re a potential candidate, pull the
original job description up and read it carefully. Look for keywords that keep
popping up and the clear skills they’re after. These are the elements you
should try to touch on when you talk to your interviewer. We recommend even
jotting them down on scratch paper as you read. It will help your memory.

Bonus Tip: By the way, this is a good time to suggest that
you start saving all the links to job descriptions you’ve applied for in an
Excel file so you can keep track of them. This is a great shortcut for
situations like these, but it’s also a smart approach to the job search
process. You can set up columns for things like “Date to Follow Up” and “Next
Steps”.

Phone Interview
Tip #4: Research the Company on LinkedIn and via the Company Site

So that you have a great answer to the potential question,
“Why are you interested in coming to work for us?”

Phone Interview
Tip #5: Prepare Your Salary Requirements

You should have a $5,000 range in mind. Prepare for it by
researching via The Salary Project or one of the other great salary research
tools out there. And keep it simple when asked. Just say, “I’m looking to make
between $70,000 and $75,000.”

Phone Interview
Tip #6: Plan on Being Somewhere Quiet

That does not mean your car. Ideally, it’s not in an office
next to a construction site either. Book a meeting room at work or make sure
your dog’s out with the dog walker while you’re on the phone. Just keep it as
mellow as possible.

Phone Interview
Tip #7: Use Headphones

Plugging in headphones helps cut down on background noise
and will help the interviewer hear you better if their service is spotty.

Why not? Unlike an in-person interview, you can have all
those resources right in front of you to reference as you talk.

Phone Interview
Tip #9: Slow Down

Most of us talk too fast when we’re in a stressful speaking
situation. That’s especially true when you aren’t able to track the other
person’s visual cues. So, remind yourself to slow down.

Phone Interview
Tip #10: Prepare Some Questions to Ask

Again, these don’t have to be too complicated since it’s a
prescreen. But you might want to ask when they’re looking for someone to start
or what the hiring process will be like, including next steps (if they don’t
provide you with this information).

Phone Interview
Tip #11: When You Answer, Answer Professionally

You should say, “Hello, this is [your full name].” It makes
it easy for them, but it’s also clear that you’re ready and waiting (and
therefore prepared) for the interview. Here are the ideal opening remarks that
will clearly convey you knew this phone interview was coming:

You: Hello, this is [Your Name].

Them: Hi, this is [Their Name] calling from [Company.]

You: Hi [Their First Name], thank you again for taking the
time to speak with me today.

Phone Interview
Tip #12: Let Them Interrupt You

There’s an easy way to make sure you’re giving them the
right answers. “If you’ve started to give a long answer and the interviewer tries
to jump back in, then there’s no point in trying to keep talking because they’re
probably not paying attention…Let them interrupt and see what they really want
to get at, and maybe you can start that story again at a different point.”

Phone Interview
Tip #13: Write a Follow-Up Thank You Email

The Interview Thank You Rule (that’s an official term) is
simple: every time you speak to someone new at a company during the job
interview process, you should thank them for their time. So write a thank-you
email to the recruiter and send it within a few hours of your phone interview.

Phone Interview
Tip #14: Don’t Be Afraid to Communicate If You Need to Reschedule

Obviously, it’s not ideal to ask for a change of interview
time, so this is the last resort. But if you’re job searching, and it turns out
that your boss wants you to attend a meeting during the pre-scheduled time,
email the recruiter back. They understand that you’re juggling your search and
your work, and they don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you.

Phone Interview
Tip #15: Ask if They Have More Questions for You

Throughout the phone interview, you naturally answered and
asked insightful questions. At the end of the phone call, your interviewer
might ask you if you have any other questions. Respond in kind. Does the
interview have any final questions for you? This lets the interviewer know that
you are open to the challenge of more questions and that you are actively
engaged in the interview process.